Jeroen de Rijk
Jeroen de Rijk (1962) came to Amsterdam at the age of 19 in 1981, dreaming about playing percussion on the Paradiso main stage at least once. Taught by teachers Steve Boston and John Engels, Jeroen became a very successful musician and music entrepreneur. He’s been voted best percussionist of the Benelux 10 times by the readers of drummers magazine ‘Slagwerkkrant’. He played live on stage and/or in studios with David Guetta, Mr. Probz, Gino Vannelli, Mezzoforte, Yellowjackets, Metropole Orchestra, George Duke, Jazz Orchestra Of The Concertgebouw, Pat Metheny, Toots Thielemans, Monty Alexander, ‘Toppers’, The Passion, Lange Frans and many other national and international artists. His contribution to Michael Jackson’s “Love Never Felt So Good” by Michael’s posthumous ‘Xscape’ album is one of the absolute highlights in his career as a studio musician.
Since 1998 Jeroen runs Baileo Music Productions, a booking agency for live music and record label that has so far released 60 albums with, among others, Louis van Dijk and Madeline Bell. Baileo Music Production books music for festivals like the Laren Jazz festival and private companies and people. Since 2008, Jeroen is also bandleader for the Cape Verdean star singer Suzanna Lubrano. They’ve played in front of tens of thousands of Cape Verdeans on seven of the nine Cape Verdean Islands. Jeroen also produced a live DVD with Suzanna with as special guest Candy Dulfer. Jeroen already played in her band in the 80’s, and yes, several times in Paradiso, on the main stage…
In 2014 Jeroen initiated together with friend Prof. Cees Hamelink ‘Amsterdam World Jazz City’, an intiative to put the capital of The Netherlands back on the map as a significant jazz city. Red Light Jazz initiator Marcel Kaatee and Jeroen immediately understood the importance of using “Jazz” to increase social cohesion in our city. ‘Jazz’ and a ‘Jazz Mind’ are indeed about communication: say what you have to say, listen to each other and swing together!
Jeroen knows the red light district well. For the past 35 years he’s paid regular visits to the neighbourhood with his girlfriend to eat (Chinese) food. Steamed oysters, crispy pork, ginger broccoli and eggplant stuffed with fish are a basic life necessity within their relationship. In addition, Jeroen is happy to sit at outdoor cafes, eat ice cream and walk around with guests from home and abroad to show them the wonders of the old center of Amsterdam. Over the years he’s played in Casa Blanca, the Bethaniënklooster, the Amsterdam Academic Club, Captain Zeppos, the Beurs van Berlage and the Winter Garden of the Krasnapolsky Hotel. Memorable was a super chique evening at the St. Olof Chapel to mark the 50th anniversary of a well known entrepreneur on the Zeedijk. Baileo Music Productions handled all the music programming and production. He himself – in tuxedo! – played bongos that night.
Of course Jeroen endorses the importance of the Red Light Jazz Festival for the red light district, the city and the country.
